ESPN Final 2025 NHL Draft Rankings

[TBone]

They have extensive profiles for all of these players. Enjoy.

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Final 2025 NHL draft rankings, led by Schaefer, Misa, Hagens

By Rachel Doerrie
Jun 24, 2025

NHL draft week is officially here, and with that come the final draft rankings.

The top 64 are ranked here, along with details of their game, areas for development, their perception among NHL scouts and an NHL projection. The final set of rankings includes combine scores and a heavier weight of scouting opinions and intel against my projection model. While some players grade at higher or lower value than in previous rankings, their position considers how likely they are to become NHL players based on their developmental needs and perception in the industry.

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The most important thing to remember is that a player's success or failure is not dictated by his draft slot, but who he becomes in the years that follow. It is true that earlier draft picks get many more chances than late ones regardless of talent, but that doesn't mean some gems won't be found later in the draft. In fact, given the desire for size, truculence and hard skill over high-end talent, it is fair to suggest we might see more success from draft selections outside the first round than in previous years.

Here are the top 64 prospects, along with some players who deserve honorable mention:

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/455 ... isa-hagens

[John Cocktoastin]

I have to admit, I have a new favorite at #19. Cole Reschny. Good centerman are hard to come by and even though he's a tad small, his patience, vision and passing are noticeable. Plays a strong 2-way game as well.

Sticking with it until the draft. Then again, maybe someone will unexpectedly fall. We'll see.

[moose-and-squirrel]

I have to admit, I have a new favorite at #19. Cole Reschny. Good centerman are hard to come by and even though he's a tad small, his patience, vision and passing are noticeable. Plays a strong 2-way game as well.

Sticking with it until the draft. Then again, maybe someone will unexpectedly fall. We'll see.

sounds like Zack Dean to me

which is not necessarily a bad thing

[BalotelliMassive]

I'm assuming that Chicago takes Anton Frondell at 3 based on his size, shot and 200 foot game - he fits their style the best imo.

[seattleblue]

Yeah the Hawks culture is a real 200' commitment hard nosed culture that he would fit into.

[STL fan in MN]

I have to admit, I have a new favorite at #19. Cole Reschny. Good centerman are hard to come by and even though he's a tad small, his patience, vision and passing are noticeable. Plays a strong 2-way game as well.

Sticking with it until the draft. Then again, maybe someone will unexpectedly fall. We'll see.

sounds like Zack Dean to me

which is not necessarily a bad thing

Not even close.

Dean scored 20 pts in 23 games his draft season (shortened due to Covid).

Reschny scored 92 pts in 62 games and then added another 25 pts in 11 playoff games.

Reschny then joined Team Canada late at the U18s (missed the first 2 games as he was still playing in the WHL playoffs) and in the 5 games he played, he led that team in scoring too (which included Martin, Cootes, Smith, Kindel, Nesbitt etc).

Reschny is seriously underrated in some circles IMO. He’s one of the more talented, smartest and hardest working players in this class. I have him in my top-10 and I’d be thrilled to have him at 19.

If you want a Dean comp for this draft it’s probably more someone like Milton Gastrin. A very solid defensively oriented center that brings a good compete level and intangibles. I see Gastrin as a pretty safe bet to develop into a 3C or 4C. Plays the type of game where I’d be surprised if he gets pushed to the wing. But his offensive potential is more limited.

[seattleblue]

if those 18 players were off the board, Aitcheson and Reschny would be 1-2 on my board. I would take Aitcheson. He has some Byfuglien smash element to his highly competitive game.